As of you may have read in today's Dover Express, I am now working for Shepway Chamber of Commerce who have opened an office in Dover - at the old Royal Mail Sorting Office opposite Morrisons.
I have created a letter of introduction for businesses who would like more information on the work-placements.
It is probably the most exciting initiative to hit Dover in years and will be so useful to Dover's young people and our businesses.
If there are any business owners looking in who are interested in the scheme, or want to know how I and Shepway Chamber can help them, please email me and I will call you.
Here's that introductary letter.
"An exciting programme to support businesses across Dover has been launched by Channel Chamber of Commerce from its new base in the old Royal Mail Sorting Office in Dover.
Local young people, aged between 18 & 24years - all job seekers, are being offered to local employers for periods of between 4 and 6 months as a valuable additional resource to help businesses and voluntary organizations - for free. They will be contracted to work 25 hours a week; the start and end times of each day will be determined by the employer.
Working in partnership with Kent County Council and local partner LSBC (Learning and Skills for Business and the Community), these work-placements have been made possible through the Government's Future Jobs Fund which the Channel Chamber of Commerce is helping to deliver.
I have been engaged by the Channel Chamber to manage the programme and help to match the businesses with the appropriate young person..
Whilst many of these young people have few skills or work experience they do have the enthusiasm and motivation to prove themselves in the workplace. They will be paid by Channel Chamber of Commerce whilst they are working with the businesses - as I mentioned earlier, at no cost to them: no National Insurance costs, no pension contribution and no complicated paperwork.
Many small businesses are prepared to take on young people but find the selection process difficult, time-consuming and expensive, this work placement programme eliminates these headaches and gives employers the best chance to see these youngsters in action without any obligations or cost.
Towards the end of each work placement, employers will be invited to assess the youngster's ability and aptitude and if appropriate and without any obligation, can decide whether or not, to take them onto their payroll.
Its win-win all round. Businesses in Dover are facing difficult times and should get a real boost from the valuable cost-free resource we are providing; it is also an ideal work-trial opportunity for these young people - the local youngsters get practical work experience and make an important step towards a sustainable job. The Dover community benefits as a whole with a significant number of youngsters in work spending their income in the local shops etc.
If this work placement is of interest to you, please call me on 07712 626245, or email me at
rogerwalkden@channelchamber.co.uk
Kind Regards
Roger (Walkden)"
As this progresses, I will be once again supporting Dover Town and giving pro-active support to local businesses.
Roger
